Cigarette lighter



Aug. 26, 1952 J. slMoN ETAL CIGARETTE LIGHTER 4 Smeets-sheet 1 Filed OCT.. 5, 1949 J. SIMON ET AL CIGARETTE LIGHTER Aug. 26, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, -1949 NQ. KN

V EN TORS Aug. 26, 1952 J. SIMON ETAL CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed 00T'. 5, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 74W IN VEN T0125 @buuf Zamo Aug. 26, 1952 J. SIMON ET AL 2,608,080

` CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed oct. 5, 1949 v4 sheets-sheet 4 u IN VEN TOR.)- ,am @Q4/)27M `.Patented Aug. 26, 1952 cr'GAnn'r'rE LIGHTER Justin: Simon,

Woodmere, and Richard S.Temko, Y NewvYork, N;

I .1' Application-center 5, 1949, serial Np. 119,682

This invention relates generally to ,cigarette lighters, and more particularly to a 'cigarette lighter in which the fuel, flint, and wick areV replaced as a unit in the form'of a disposable caritridge when these consumable elements are used Reference is made to euren-pending application Serial No. 688,068, now matured to Patent No. 2,541,111, this application being a continuation-in-part of that application.

In view of prior improvements in the art to which the present invention relates, lighters have becomey relatively fool-proof in operation, but are open to the disadvantage that any oneof the consumable elementstherein, namely, the wick, ilint, and fuel may give out at a time when least expected. In accordance with the presentinvention the consumable` elements are correlated so that the fuel becomes entirely consumed at substantially the same time or slightly before the flint is consumed. The wick is so set that the exposed portion thereof is adequate for theentire burning period permitted by the quantity'of fuel in the cartridge.`

It isjtherefore, among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a novel tand useful cigarette lighter construction in which when the f uel, wick, or int has been consumed, itis a relatively simpleoperation to remove a car` tridge containing all three ofthese' elementsjto discard the same and to replace it` with .a new cartridge.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a device of the class described, which is substantially leak-proof both while being stored prior to use and during use.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a cartridge and cigarette lighter casing construction in which the consumed cartridge may. be quickly and'conveniently replaced with a new one by the user without tools, o r special skill.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantagesvwill more fully appear 'in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

.In'the drawings similar'reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutvvv the several views: I I

Figure 1 is a view inperspective of bodiment ofthe invention. f y

Figure 2 isa view in elevation of the firstrem` bodiment, the casing element of which .has been removed to show details of inner structure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the device as seen from the plane 3-3 oniFigafirst em-V ure i. in this view the device is shown with a removable-'f cartridge. in operative position, Figure @is an enlarged transverse vertical sec-'- tionalviewfas seen from the plane- II-II on Figurev 1. Inl-)this viewthe casing element is in a partially closed position thereof showing a stage of the loading Procedure. f

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of a replaceable cartridge showing the ilint carrier. Y vFigure G is an enlarged view in perspective in which the Allcasing element of the device has been removed to 'show details of structure. Figure 7'- is an enlarged view in perspective Aof the removable cartridge element, partlyjbroken away to 'show details of internal construction.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view in perspective of the casngfalement of the device, partly broken away to'show the activating pin mountedthere- Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view, as'seen from the plane 9 9 on Figure 6.v i Figure llIlijis a fragmentary horizontal sectional view corresponding to the lefthand portion vvof Figure-9'. ..1 'y lFigure 11v isan enlarged fragmentary elevaf'` tional view of a cartridge element for use withfa second embodiment of the invention. Figure l2 is an enlarged fragmentary "secr, tional view", of the second embodiment, corre'- sponding generally toFigure 9. Figure l3--is an enlarged fragmentary sectiona viewI of the second embodiment corresponding generally tolFigure 4. Y Figure 14;' is an enlarged exploded view ofa third embodiment of the invention, including va replaceable'cartridge element.

Figure 15- is an enlarged verticaltransverse sectional view, corresponding generallyto Figure 4. H

Turning now to the first embodiment, in' ac' cordance with-.the invention, the device generally indicated by reference character I0, includes broadlya cartridge retaining element'II, having thereon an ignition means I2, a casing ,element I3, and a vreplaceable cartridge element. I4. ,Y The Acartridge retaining element II,-compris es a bottom wallj I5,I and vertical walls I6, Il and I.'I'.` These are suitably secured at the upper por-l tion thereofto a housing I8 which encloses the ignition means I2. A tubular member I9, generallycircularin cross section encloses the flint ac#v uing elem-ent 23, aS will be more clearly seen sion spring 29, resiliently connects the triggermember 24 with the lower wall 25, andnormally urges the member 24 in a, counterclockwise direction as seen from Figure l-.f A- 'crescent shapedV groove (Figure l0) is provided in member. 24

able with corresponding depressions on the cartridge retaining element I3. A small orifice 51 in the bottom wall I5 permits entry of the pin 5I when the casing element is in operative position.

The replaceable cartridge I4 may be best seen on Figures 5 and 7. As this element of the device is intended to be expendable, it is desirable that it be fabricated at as low a. cost as possible. We

vhave' found structure similar' tothat utilized in A`theJ wellfknown fftin can" to be suitable. Thus the vertical walls 60, 6I, 62, and 63, may be fformed from a single strip of sheet steel lapped on ,a sing1e line (not shown) in one of the walls.

The'top portion 64 and the bottom portion 65,

in which the contact portion 3| ,of thesear 321s normally disposed.

The striking element 2| includes a :toothed striking wheel 33, rigidly secured to a rotatable shaft 34, A pair of` brackets providesa mounting for `the shaft 34 which as-,maybe seenpn Figure 4 mayralso project through the -wallsv.36 of the snuier member 22. `Unidir-ectionaLdrive is obtainedbetween the snuffer member 22, and the shaft 34 by means of the. clutchgwheel 3-'I which engages a resilient tab 3S-on -the member 2 2. Thus when the snuffer member 22 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed on lligille-3-, the tab 38 will engage one of the projections 39 on the clutch wheel 3l., thereby causing. 4the snuffer member 22 to move .with the toothed wheel 33. When thesnuffermember 22 is Vmoved in a counterclockwise direction, however, the resiliency of ,the tab 38, permits it to ride over the projectionsv 39. This constructionv assures the coniining of the motion of the wheel 33 to that in aclockwise motion as seen in Figure 3, needless wear on the flint 40 being lavoided thereby. A torsion spring 3I, coaxial with shaft 34 provides torque to normally rotate the-snuifer member 22 to an upright position, thereby striking the ilin 40, when the member 22 is released. v

The flint,actuating element :23, as has-been mentioned is .disposed substantially within --the tubular member I9. It comprises a followerA 4I, a safety spring 42. of a, relatively small modulus, an actuating spring-43, of a relatively ,greater modulus, and a contact member 44, which is generally in the form4 of a thin lcircular disk. The follower `-4I `includes a shaft 45A of predetermined length and diameter, and a -iat disk portion 46, against which one terminus of both springs, 42 and 43 may act. .Y The spring 42 is maintainedin position within the tubular member I9, .bythe upper wall v4l, while the` spring 43 is similarly maintainedby the contact of the contact member 44 with a portion of the bottom wall I5, of the cartridge retaining element I I. The operation of the flint actuating element 23 will be described more fully in a later portion of the disclosure. y The casing element I3 (Figure 8) is removable from the device by sliding itdownwardly away from the housing I8. It includes a.bottom wall upon which is secured an actuating pin 5I, disposed such that it is coaxial with the tubular member I9 whenthecasing element is positioned 0n the device; and vertical walls -52, 53, .54, and f5.5. Although we have shown the. wall -as having a'curvilinear surface, it will be readilyunder. stood that this is by Way of forming apleasing appearance, a rectilinear surface being also suit- 55 there is provided a pair of detents 56, engage*-A -may-be then, secured in a well known manner. f- The vcotton filling 66', wick 66, and fuel (not shown) may be` inserted through a small opening (not shown) which is later sealed, or may be inserted before the top portion 54 is completely secured in position. Securedtotheupper. surface of the top p0rtion 54 is. a .wick retaining sleeve 6l,` having a. bore .Q68A substantially, equal to the diameter of .the wick 6 5. To prevent evaporation of the fuel through the wick before the cartridge is in use. the outer surface 69 of the sleeve 61 is threaded to.receive a cap (not shown). ,This cap may be removed immediately before'inserting the cartridge into the ycartridge retaining element II. Disposed in the vertical wall 6I is a channel 10, which as. may be seen on Figure 7 extendsthrough the topand bottom portions 64-65 The channel is` substantially.semicircular in fcrossl sectionto, enable the cartridge to t about the tubuf lar member I8. Attached to the surface of the 'groo'veor 'channel 10 atthe uppermost portion thereof is a flint Acarrier member 'II, disposed so thatthe upper surface thereof liesin the plane of the top portion 64. The flint 40 is disposed in a, bore "I2, which is preferably ofan internal diameter substantially equal to the diameter Vof the flint ,40. The flint is retained in position by means of a frangible support member I4 prefer-l ably formed from thin paper. and carrying adhesive, which paper may be readily punctured by the shaft 45, as will more fully appear. It may be mentioned at this time that the tubular member I9 does notextend to the housing I8, but terminates at a point below Vthe housing a distance suflcientto allow the flint retaining memberto be disposed therebetween when the vcartridge element I4 is inserted into the cartridge retaining. element. Y

' Operation 4Assuming the lighter to be in a condition wherein recharging is necessary, the device is grasped firmly at the housing IB. With the other. hand a vforce. is applied to the casing element I3, sufficient to rdislodge the detents 56, after which the element may be easily slid from the cartridge retaining element. By l inserting the fingers through the opening in the'wall `I 'I the` exhausted cartridge may be'readily dislodged and removed..`

the flint carrier beneath the flint guide tube 13.v

Positioning of' the cartridge is facilitated bythe elongated slot 'I6 in the lower wall 25 through which -thersleeve I'Ipasses.

v The casing element I3 is then replaced by slidingfupwardlyuntil the detents 56'are again engaged. The pin 5|, has now entered the orice 51 and contacted the member -44 (Fig. 4). The spring 43 is now under compression and as the modulus of the spring 43 is of a greater degree than that of spring 42 the latter spring is immedately compressed (Fig. 3). The follower 4| is thereby moved upwardly breaking the member 14 and resiliently propelling the flint 40 through the tube 13 whereby it may be positioned beneath the wheel 33 in a manner well known in the art. The lighter is then used in the ordinary manner until the cartridge is subsequently exhausted. Rotation of the trigger member 24 serves to trip the sear 32, thereby releasing the striking means 2 I. To extinguish the lighter the snuifer member 22 is manually returned to its original position whereby the projection 11 is re-engaged with the sear 32.

Turning now to the second embodiment, to avoid needless repetition, certain of the parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment have been designated by similar reference characters with the addition of the prex 1.

As may be seen on Figures 11 to 13 inclusive, the second embodiment differs from the iirst embodiment, principally in the location of the flint carrier |1|. In the second embodiment a portion of this member extends above the surface of the lower wall |25, thereby rendering unnecessary the presence of a guide tube 13. In order to provide facility in reloading, an elongated slot |18 is cut into the lower wall |25, to accommodate member |1|.

Turning now to the third embodiment, to avoid needless repetition, certain of the parts correspending to those of the first embodiment have been designated by similar reference characters with the addition of the prex 2.

As may be seen on Figures 14 and 15, the third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments principally in the structure of the cartridge receptacle element. In this embodiment the bottom wall I5 has been eliminated, and the walls 2|6 and 2|1' have been enlarged to provide a resilient force fit between the cartridge 2|4 and the cartridge retaining element 2||. The wall |1 is therefore eliminated. Another important diiIerence in the third embodiment is that the tubular member 3|9 is secured to the casing element 2|3 instead of to the cartridge retaining element 2| The'shaft 245 may normally protrude (Fig. 14) and be urged by a single spring 243. Thus, after the cartridge 2|4 is pushed up into the retaining element, the casing element 2|3 is pushed up which moves the int 240 up to the wheel 233 automatically.

It may thus be seen that we have invented a novel and highly useful improvement in cigarette lighters, in which there is provided a device in which all of the expendable elements may be simultaneously and conveniently replaced with a minimum of e'ort on the part of the user. By employing a cartridge containing all three of the elements, which may be manufactured at a very low cost, the total operating expenses may be but very slightly above that of a conventional lighter. This small increase in operating cost is more than compensated for by increased convenience, and cleanliness in use.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the eXact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. Cigarette lighter construction comprising: a cartridge retainer element, a casing element, and a cartridge element; said cartridge element having a flint carrier positioned upon one surface thereof, said fiint carrier having a hollow channel in which a lighter flint is disposed; first means maintaining said flint within said carrier; second means including a shaft of such diameter as to afford slidable entry into said channel; third means mounted upon the casing element, said third means including a second shaft; said second means being activated by positioning said cartridge element within said cartridge retainer element, and in turn positioning said cartridge retainer element within said casing element, whereby said third mentioned means may activate said second mentioned means; said first mentioned means being suciently frangible to rupture under pressure exerted by said second means, wherein said first mentioned shaft may enter rsaid channel to urge said flint from said flint carrier.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the second mentioned means has first and second resilient components incorporated therein; one of said components serving to maintain said second mentioned means in an active position, the other of said resilient means being capable of overcoming the resiliency of said first resilient component through motion imparted by the shaft of said third mentioned means occurring when said cartridge retainer element is positioned within said casing element.

JUSTIN SIMON. RICHARD S. TEMKO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,311,774 Ritter July 29, 1919 1,944,177 Holtzman Jan. 23, 1934 2,451,515 Simon et al Oct. 19, 1948 2,492,061 Ornesher Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 158,662 Austria May 10, 1940 923,219 France Feb. 17, 1941 

